/
1x
Advertisement
Proudly Canadian, obsessively Toronto. Subscribe to Toronto Life!
Life

Dear Urban Diplomat: Can I yell at people in mobility scooters if they deserve it?

By Urban Diplomat
Copy link
Urban Diplomat

Dear Urban Diplomat,

I find myself in a game of sidewalk chicken with a mobility scooter operator at least once a month, probably because so many of them drive the things so recklessly. When is it okay to chastise someone for speeding in a motorized wheelchair? Is there any scenario—and any way to handle it—that doesn’t make me look like a schoolyard bully?

—Troublescooting, Queen West

The simplest solution is to step aside and accept that scooters gonna scoot. But sparing a kamikaze wheelchair driver the dressing-down you’d give an able-bodied pedestrian is itself a form of discrimination. Assuming he’s treating the sidewalk like his personal Autobahn—and not just understandably struggling to navigate rush hour in something the size of a loveseat—he deserves to hear about it. Calmly and politely asking him to slow down is fair play, even if it prompts a few strangers to throw you some shade.

Send your questions to the Urban Diplomat at urbandiplomat@torontolife.com

Advertisement

NEVER MISS A TORONTO LIFE STORY

Sign up for This City, our free newsletter about everything that matters right now in Toronto politics, sports, business, culture, society and more.

By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.
You may unsubscribe at any time.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Advertisement
Advertisement

The Latest

How this Corktown condo transformed from an everyday unit into a chic sanctuary
Real Estate News

How this Corktown condo transformed from an everyday unit into a chic sanctuary

Inside the Latest Issue

The June issue of Toronto Life features our annual ranking of the best new restaurants. Plus, our obsessive coverage of everything that matters now in the city.